Fountain pen



H. A. FUNK FOUNTAIN PEN Aug. 13, 1935.

Filed' May 51, 19:53

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HHIHH mvlurmp v NN QW INVENTOR. wen/|90 a we/ ATTORNEY; l

Aug. 13, 1935. H; A; FUNK v FOUNTAIN PEN w.. Y@ lm' QN Filed May 3l, 1933 w ,mx A N N man fmv Patented Aug. 13, 1935` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE A* FOUNTAIN PEN Hugo A. Funk, Los Angeles, Calif. Application May 31, 1933, Serial No. 673,732

13 Claims. (Cl. 1Z0- 50) My invention relates broadly to fountain pens and more particularly to the construction of an inexpensive type of fountain pen having a readily replaceable-nib.-

5 One of the objects of my invention isto provide an inexpensive construction of fountain pen including a magazine for carrying a multiplicity of replacement nibs which may be readily mountedvin the pen for replacing'the worn nib.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of fountain pen employing atype of steel nib which may be readily removed and reinserted in the pen without th f use of tools for l insuring maximum ease and em iency in writing.- Still another object of my invention is to provide a.v construction of fountain pen having a readily replaceable nib formed from non-corrosive steel as distinguished from goldnibs for providing an eflicient writing point at the same time that the cost is maintained low. i A further object of my invention is to provide a construction of fountain pen wherein the nib is formed integral with an ink vfeeder for insuring the uniform feeding of ink to the writing pointI by capillary attraction by a minimum number of parts.

A still further object of my inventionis to provide a construction of replaceable nib and integrally formed ink feeder which may be carried in a. plug member in the end of a fountain pen where the ink feeder is so formed that the feed channel is automatically cleaned by the removal l andreplacement of the nib.

Ano'ther object of my invention is to provide a 3 -reflllable fountain pen comprising a plug memvber for the end of the pen barrel and a replaceable nib extending through a feed channel in the plug member so arranged that the pen can be filled ,by simply immersin'g the tip of the feed channel into the ink and performing a filling Aoperation without soiling the pen barrel. Stillanother object of my invention is tofprovide a construction of replaceable nib for fountain pens wherein lateral projections are provided on the nib for facilitating the removal ofthe nib when it is necessary to replace the nib. i

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction of plug for tle end of apen barrel wherein the plug -grooved to coact with a replaceablenib for permitting ready removal and insertion of the nib in 'the plug while preventing lateral displacement 'of the nib with respect to the plug during writing operations'.

Other-and further objects of my invention reside in the construction of an improved fountain pen and magazine carrier therefor asset forth more fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings,` in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fountain pen 5 constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig'. 2 is atop plan view thereof; Fig. 3is a bottom plan view of the pen; Fig. 4 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line` 4 4 of Fig. 2 and 10 showing more particularly the, magazine for the spare nibs arrangedwithin the cap; Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the rear end of a fountain l5 pen' barrel sho g the same recessed for the reception of a n ber of spare nibs; Fig, 'I 'is a longitudinal sectional View of the detachable nib holding plug; Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view therel of; Fig. 9 is a side elevation of one of the detach- 20 able nibs; Fig. '10 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view taken' on line -H--II of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modled form of the detachable nib holding plug; Fig. 13 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken on line I3-I3 o1' Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is a transverse vertical sectional view -taken on line M-M of-Fig. 12; Fig. 15 is a fragmentary plan view'showing a modification of the detachable nib holding plug; Fig. 16 is a central 3o vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on line ,I6-,I6 of Fig. 15; Fig. 1741s a central vertical longitudinal sectional view showing another modi-I ilcation of the detachable nib holding plug; Fig. l 18 is`a transverse vertical section taken on line I8-I8 of Fig. 1'7; Fig. 19 isa transverse vertlcal sectional View taken on line I9 -|9 of Fig. 11; Fig. 20 is a central vertical sectional view showing still another modification of the detachable nib holding lplug and-adjacent parts; Fig. 21 is a 40 transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 2I-'2I of Fig. 20; Fig; 22 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 22g-22 of Fig. 20; Fig. 23 is a plan view of still another modication of my improved detachablenib holding plug, 45 and zo-acting modified form or mb; Fig. 24 is a? side elevation thereof; Fig. 25 isva central vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on line 25-25 of Fig. 23; Fig. 26 is a transverse vertical Plug and the nib-can'ie-theleby; lign-29 is a t' View with the forward end of the pen barrel and the detachable nib holding plug shown in juxtaposition, the'nib' being shown in the act of being inserted in the plug; and Fig. 3o is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a desk style fountain pen having a detachable hollow cap for carrying a number of replacement nibs.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference lcharacter I designates the pen barrel which carries a cap 2 on one end thereof. The pen barrel has been illustrated asthe barrel of a. typical rellable pen having a reservoir control lever as shown at- 3. The end of the barrel' I is screw threaded as represented at 4 for receiving-coacting -screw threads 5 on the interior of the cap 2 when the cap 2 is inserted over the writing' end of the pen when the pen is notin use. A clip 6 is provided for facilitating the carrying of the pen when the pen is n'ot in use. The writing end of the barrel I has a cylindrical recess 'I therein for receiving a readily insertable plug 8. The plug 8 is shaped to snugly t the cylindrical re- .9a to coact with the slot Ill for insuring the feeding of ink intothe passage 9 when the pen is held in writing position. The plug8 is provided with a groove II extending axially from the end of the passage 9 and terminating at the end of the plug 8 in opposed jaws designated at IIa and'ilb. Plug 8 is apertured at I2 for providing an air passage which facilitates the uniform feeding of the ink and also provides an intake passage for the inkA during the filling operation'of the pen. The portion of the plug 8 adjacent the end ofthe groove II and the opposed jaws IIa and I Ib is grooved at I 4 for facilitating the insertion and removal of the p en nib I5. To increase the lightness of the plug 8 and render the same more convenient for writing, the plug is cut away on opposide sides thereof as shown at I3.

Figs. 9, 10, and 11 show the removable pen nib employed in the'p'en of my invention. The nib I5 is formed integral with the feed strip I 5a. The feed.n strip I5a and nib I5 are integrally formed from resilient steel and. so shaped as shown in the drawings that by the mere insertion of the nib through the groove I I and passage 9, the nib will Atend to straighten out and be frictionally maintained in position in the plug 8. The nib I5 ,and feed strip I5a are originally given such a Abowed formationA that insertion of the strip withinthe plug 8 brings into play forces tending to straightenout the feed strip and nib and thus frictionally maintain the nibiny` position in the plug 8. The tip I6 of the plug serves as an abutment which resists the force which is placed upon Y the nib` I5 during a. Writing operation.

shown more particularly in Fig. '4, the bowed 'portion of the feed strip I Y5a contacts with the inner' cylindrical lwall of the passage'S in one direction while in the opposite direction the strip I5a contacts with one wallV of the passage II. Thisv providesy a feed passage along the strip I5a.

'I'he natural bowed formation tof strip 15u. proj vides a channel I'I immediately beneathy the air hole I2' which facilitates feeding of the ink during the writing operation'and providesa direct pasthereto.

sage for the ink into the reservoir I8 during a iilling operation. While I have not shown the de- 2, is provided' with an internally screw threaded closure, as shown at 20. There are longitudinally extending pockets 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d provided in -the wall of* cap `2 as shown more clearly in Figs. 5 and 6. 'I'hese pockets serve as -a magazine for receiving extra pen nibs which I have designated generally at 2 I These extra or spare pen nibs are of the same shape and contour as the pen nib I5 and have such inherentvresiliency that the extra nibs may be maintained in position in the pockets 2a, 2b, and 2c for preventing relative movement of the spare nibs and resulting injury That is to say, the bowed portions of the spare nibs, when inserted in the pockets in l the walls of the cap, provide means for locking the spare nibs in position in the cap and preventing displacement thereof;

In Fig. 12 I have shown a structure of pen embodying my invention in which a plug has a central passage 22 extending therethrough where the p'assageis in the 'form of a groove of rectangular section shown more particularlyin Figs. 13 and 14, within which the ink feed strip I 5a of nib I5 snugly fits. In order to provide for the feeding of ink there is a channel 23 for ink directly adjacent the passage 2 2. This channel 23 extends to the end of the plug 25 and serves as a means for facilitating the feeding of ink during a writing operation `and as a means for guiding .the ink to the reservoir during a iilling operation. f

Fig. 15v shows another modified form of pen embodying my invention in which a detachableV plug 26 for the end of pen barrel I is provided,

wherein the passage through the plug is disposed at 24 directly in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the pen. The passage 274 is rectangular in cross section and is provided with an adjacent ink feeding channel similar to the structure shown in Figs. 13 and 14. lBy virtue of the axial disposition of the groove 24 through the plug 2B, the nib-has its bowed ink feedstrip portion I5a fiat'- tened outdand maintained frictionally ,inA position inthe pen as shown.

Fig. 17 shows another modified form of pen embodying my invention wherein a plug 21 has a central rectangular passage 28 extending therethrough and serving as a guide for Athe replaceable pen nib I5. vrThe inkfeedst-rip I5a. of the.

pen nib I5 is confined within the groove 28. 'I'he ink feed passage 29 extends immediately adjacent the ink feed strip I5a. The plug 21 has one side thereof terminating at 30 and the opposite side terminating at 3|, and each serving as bearing,

Asupports -for the nib I5. The ink flows along passage 29 which actually` crosses the axial path l Figs. 18 and 19 are cross sectional views showing the relative locationof the ink feeding passage 29 with respect to the passage 28 which re- Ceives the ink feed strip I5a of the pen nib I5. 7'5

the pen nib I5. A supporting surface is providedV for the nib I5 as represented at 35, at the end of the plug 32. The relative position of the ink feed strip I5a and the groove. 33 'and channel 34 will be seen more clearly in Figs. 2l and 22 which are cross sectional views taken on correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. 20.

In order to facilitate the replacement of the pen nib when the nib has become worn,A I may provide lateral projections on the edges of the pen nib as shown more particularly in Figs.. 23, 24, 25, and'26.` In this arrangement a, plug 36 is carried in the" end of the pen barrel, which end f is provided with side grooves similar tothe arrangement illustrated in Fig. 2p, that is, an external groove. 33 is provided forthe passage/of the ink feed strip I5a of pen nib I5. Immediately above the ink feed strip I5a in passage 33, there is an inl:v feed channel 34. In order to facilitate the, passage of ink ufrom the pen barrel through the plug 33 an anguiarly cut slot 36a may be formed in plug 36 as represented. in Fig. 25. The

distinctive features of construction in the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 23-26 is lthat the pen nib I5 has laterally extending projections I5b and I5c. By gripping the projections liband I5c the pen \nib may be readily withdrawn from the plug 36 and a freshpen nib inserted. In order to avoid lateral displacement ofthe pen nib I provide projections 36h and 36e on the plug 33, thereby 1firmly anchoring the pen nib vin position during writing operations.

The cross sectional view taken on line'21-21 of' Fig. 25 illustrates the manner in which the pen nib is maintained in position while no obstruction is offered to the passage of ink along channel 34.

In another of the forms of the pen of my invention I find it desirable to lock the pen nib in position by an arrangement illustrated in Figs. 28 and 29 wherein the plug 31 is insertable into the recess 1 in the end of the pen barrel I. Plug 31 .has a passage extending angularly therethrough and adjacent one end thereof as represented at 33. The plug 31 is grooved at 39 to receive the4 ink feed strip I5a o f pen nib I 5 and is provided with an adjacent ink passage 40 immediatley adjacent the groove 39. The in'k which. is carried bycapillary attraction along the ink feed lia passes through port 3B to pen nib I5 for delivery from the writing point.4 In lling the pen it is only necessaryfthat the end o`f the plug 31 be immersed in an ink reservoir or well, to permit the fluid to be drawn up through the passage 33 and channel 40 into the reservoir in the pen. 'Ihe end 31a ofl plug 31 provides a support for the pen nib I5. 1

In desk. type pens as distinguished from a fountain pen which is carried in the fpocket, I

' may findv it desirable to form the magazine for ticularly in Fig. 30 wherein the end of the pen barrel l has a cap 4I connected thereto, which cap provides a recep cle 42 for spare pen nibs I5 which I have indicated therein.

Thel structure of my invention is applicable both to a self-filling fountain pen and a drop filling pen of large capacity. The pen nib can be very member fitted into said barrel structure, a chancheaply made from Monel metal, steel or rust resisting metal, and will give service which is often more satisfactory than an expensive gold 4pointed pen. By reason of the small number of claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure b'y Letters Patent of the United States is as follows: l5

l. A fountain pen comprising a barrel structure having a cylindrical recess in one end thereof, a plug member removably secured in the cylindrical recess in said barrel member, said plug member having a channel formed therein, a pen nib, a preformed resilient strip of substantially rectang'ular cross-section integrally connected with said pen. nib, said strip being insertable through the channel in said plug member and being deformable from its preformed shape for establishingl interlocked frictional engagement on its opposite fiat sides with the interior walls of the channel through said plug member.

2. In a fountain pen, a barrel structure, a plug nel extending through said plug member and terminating in a nibsupport at the end thereof, and a pen nib having a longitudinally extending ink feed strip of substantially rectangular cross-section thereon projectlble through the channel in said plug member, said strip being bowed in opposite directions for establishing frictional engagement with the interior walls ofI the lchannel through said plug member.. said pen nib directly contactingbetween its flat sides and the nib support in the end ofsaid plug.

3. A fountain pen comprising a barrel structure recessed'at one end thereof, a plug member insertable into the recessed end of said barrel structure. said plug member having a canalextending therethrough andterminating in a nib bearing surface at the end thereof, a pen nib having a longitudinally extending strip of substantially rectangular cross-section integrally connected therewith, said strip being insertable.

member being preformed and being deformable out of shape in its passage through the canal in said plug member for establishing frictional en- 55 gagement between the flatvsides of said strip and the interior walls of the said canal, the pen nib directly contacting with the nib support at the end of said plug member.

4. In a fountain pen, a barrel structure, a plus member detachably engaging the end' of said bar rel structure, an ink channel extending through said plug member, a pen nib having anink feed strip of substantially rectangular cross-section integrally connected therewith, said ink feed strip g5 of channel ways extending therethrough, a pen 75' through the canal in said plug member, said strip 30'. and projecting on opposite sides of said ink feed nib having an integrally connected ink feed strip lof substantially .rectangular cross-section, said ink feed strip being engaged in one of said channel ways with the flat surface thereof in engagement with the channel way for establishing an link feedingpath through the adjacent channel way.

1 6. In a fountain pen comprising a barrel structure, a plug engaging the end of said barrel structure, said plug having a channel extending therethrough and terminating in a nib supporting portion, a pen nib, an ink feeding strip of substantially rectangular cross-section integrally connected with said pen nib, said ink feeding strip having a resilient bowed portion preformed in a direction coinciding with the longitudinal axis of said pen nib for establishing an interlockingconnection between the flat sides thereofand the channel through said plug member.

'7. In a fountain pen, a barrel structure recessed at one end thereof, a plug projecting into said recessed barrel structure, said plug having a channel way extending therethrough, a pen nib having an ink feeding strip of substantially rectangular cross-section integrally connected therewith, said strip being resiliently bowed Iout of alignment between the fiat sides thereof and said pen nib for establishing interlockingengagement with the interior Walls of said channel way, and a pair of guide lugs formed adjacent the end of said plug strip for preventing lateral displacement of said pen nib during a writing operation.

8. A fountain pen comprising a barrel structure, a plug member carried by one end of said barrel structure, said plug member having a channel extending therethrough, a pen nib having an ink feed strip of substantially rectangular cross-section integrally connected therewith, said ink feed strip being preformed to provide a resilient bowed (portion having the flat sides therechannel extending therethrough, a pen nib hav-JA ing an ink feed strip of substantially rectangular cross-section integrally connected therewith, said ink feedstp being preformed to provide a resilient bowed portion having the'fiat sides thereof atte'ned against the interior walls of said' i vsaid ink feed strip for preventing lateral displacement' of said pen nib during a writing operation.

section of the aforesaid channel and providing` a passage for ink to said pen vnib and a supporting surface for said pen nib at the extremity of said plug. l

11. In a fountain pen,A a barrel structure, a removable plug closing one end of said barrel structure, a channel way extending axially through said removable plug, a pen nib having an ink feed stripof substantially 'rectangular cross-section connected therewith, said ink feed strip having a substantially sinusoidal contoury and having such resiliency that' when said inl feed strip is inserted through said channel way, said strip will be substantially flattened between the walls of said chann-el wayand maintained in position therein with the flat sides of said strip in frictional engagement with the walls of said channel way.

12. In a fountain pen,` a barrel structure, a plug member closing the end of said barrel structure, said plug member having a longitudinallyv extending rectangular slot therein and an adjacent slot ofl smaller cross-(section therein, a pen nib having an ink feed strip of substantially rectangular cross-section connected thereto, said ink feed strip havingy a. substantially sinusoidalcontour and having such resiliency that said ink feed strip has the fiat sides thereof flattened against the inner walls Aof said first mentioned slot when said pen nib is inserted in said plug member for maintaining said pen nib in position in said piug member while permitting the feeding of ink through said slot. of smaller crosssection.

13. In a fountain pen, a barrel structure, a

u plug member engageable throu h one end of said barrel structure, said plug me ber having a passageway extending therethrough, a' replaceable pen nib having an ink feed strip of substantially rectangular cross-section insertable through said passageway, said inkfeed strip being bowed with respect to the axis of said passageway and having such inherent resiliency that when said` ink feed strip has the at sides thereof nattened against the innerwalls of said passageway, said pen is securely maintained in position.

HUGO A. FUNK. 

